JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 13C
Business
Business Briefs
Oil, gas give economy boost
An economic index shows growth in the
Mountain West states — including Wyoming. Texas-based Decision Analyst’s U.S.
Economic Index increased slightly from
September to October, based on a report
released earlier this month. The index anticipates overall economic activity by six to
12 months. “The October U.S. Economic
Index continues to indicate that the U.S.
economy is expanding, albeit very slowly,” said Jerry Thomas, president of the
global marketing research firm. But states
that have benefited the most from oil and
gas exploration — among them Texas,
Colorado, Utah and Wyoming — show
faster growth and “the greatest economic
strength,” according to a Decision Analyst
press release.
Pines gets new manager
Kevin Getz has been named general manager of Teton Pines Country Club and
Resort. “We are convinced that Kevin will
continue to be a tremendous asset to the
club and a great leader,” said club President Clarke Nelson. Getz is a 21-year
veteran of the club and resort, working
previously as sales and marketing director,
membership director and assistant general
manager. Originally from Pennsylvania,
Getz has worked for resorts in New York
and Wyoming.
Lodging tax gets its own logo
To raise awareness of how lodging tax
funds are spent, Teton County, the town of
Jackson and the Jackson Hole Travel and
Tourism Board have created a new “4JH”
logo. “We think it is important to let the
public know how lodging tax dollars are being used,” said County Administrator Steve
Foster. Voters signed off on the 2 percent
lodging tax in 2011. The tax is expected to
generate $3.4 million a year. Most of the
money will be used to attract tourists, but
40 percent is used for visitor services and
local government operations. The new logo
will be featured on marketing materials, and
a website, 4JacksonHole.org, will launch in
the next few weeks.
Jackson resorts named top
Conde Nast Traveler readers picked three
Jackson Hole resorts for ranking among
the top five spots in the magazine’s annual
Top 40 Resorts-West. Four Seasons Resort
Jackson Hole, in Teton Village, came in
second, with a score of 95.8 out of 100,
second only to the Westin Riverfront Resort
and Spa at Beaver Creek in Colorado. Hotel
Terra, also at the village, tied for third with
a Telluride resort. And Amangani, atop
West Gros Ventre Butte, was fifth. Three
other Jackson area resorts also made the
list: Jenny Lake Lodge (No. 16), Teton
Mountain Lodge and Spa (No. 27) and the
Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa (No. 32). For
complete details, visit CNTraveler.com/
readers-choice-awards.
Lexington deemed ‘excellent’
The Lexington at Jackson Hole has received
Vantage Hospitality’s “Best Overall Excellence” award. Earlier this year, the hotel
got TripAdvisor’s certificate of excellence.
“The Lexington at Jackson Hole stood out
above all the rest,” said Bill Handley, group
president of the Lexington Collection. “Not
only do they treat their guests like family,
but they treat their staff like family, too,” he
said. “It’s evident by the way they empower
their employees to serve as an ambassador
for the property.”
Deadlines
Business Briefs must be submitted to the
News&Guide by noon on Monday. Email
[email protected], call 733-2047 or
stop by the office at 1225 Maple Way, across
from Kmart. Or fax them to 733-2138.
PRICE CHAMBERS / NEWS&GUIDE
Gavin Fine and Roger Freedman of the Fine Dining Group want to welcome people to Bin22, a new wine bar, liquor
and grocery store that opens today in the former Koshu building.
Bin22 will fuse liquor, fine food
Fresh mozzarella?
Really fresh? Talk to the
on-site cheesemonger.
By Benjamin Graham
The inspirations for Jackson restaurateur Gavin Fine’s newest endeavor, Bin22, are many.
Tapas bars in Spain, wine shops in
New York City and Chicago, the vineyards of Italy – all contributed to the
store’s unique blend of bottle shop,
wine bar and corner grocery store.
The fusion is new for Jackson and
should intrigue residents looking for a
new place to drink or shop, or do both
at the same time.
Customers will be able to sip wine
by the glass and sample small sharable plates, such as olives, tortilla Espanola or grilled octopus, while perusing the liquor store. Two large communal tables can accommodate lunch
meetings or happy hour gatherings.
Along with wine, the bar portion of
Bin22 will serve Wyoming Whiskey,
poured from a barrel jutting out of
the wall, and beer on tap from Fine’s
other new business, Roadhouse
Brewing Company.
There’s even a cheesemonger on
site, brewing fresh mozzarella.
“It’s something Jackson doesn’t
have,” said Liz Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Fine Dining Restaurant Group.
One of the chief inspirations for the
project is Eataly, a high-end northern
Italian food market imported to New
York City in 2010 by celebrity chef
Mario Batali and vineyard owner Joe
Bastianich.
Bin22 is meant to be a smaller version adapted for Jackson Hole.
Customers will be able to buy select groceries – items made in Fine’s
other restaurants – along with an array of craft beer and artisanal spirits.
The establishment, in the space
that once housed Koshu and the
Jackson Hole Wine Company, opens
fully today. The project is perhaps
the most eclectic endeavor yet for
Fine, whose Fine Dining Restaurant
Group also runs the Q Roadhouse,
Il Villagio Osteria, the Kitchen and
Rendezvous Bistro.
For those more inclined to save
a dollar and make dinner at home,
Bin22 can act as a neighborhood
grocer.
Fresh homemade pizza dough,
cheeses, salumi and pastas from the
Osteria will be on sale. There is even
talk of homemade Wyoming Whiskeyflavored ice cream.
“It makes for a fun downtown gathering place,” Fine said. “Or you can
buy a bottle and pizza dough to take
home.”
The goal is to provide atmosphere
and options: a place where you can
stop for a drink, or pick up spirits and
ingredients to go.
Wine is still a big part of the business. The old Jackson Hole Wine
Company space has been redone to incorporate more aisles and more wine
from around the world, all at reasonable prices. Craft beers and artisanal
spirits also will be sold.
“It’s still a wine shop at heart,”
Gibbs said.
Staff will be on hand to help enthusiasts pick out specialty wines to add
to their cellars. Private tastings can
also be arranged.
Next summer, once Fine’s brewing
company is running, the back porch of
Bin22 will serve as a beer garden.
The bottle shop opens its doors from
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The wine bar opens
at noon and closes with the shop.
JHMarketplace offers 1-stop shopping
Online storefront allows
area businesses to sell
products worldwide.
By Lindsay Wood
Buying “made in Jackson Hole”
doesn’t require a trip here anymore.
The new Jackson Hole Marketplace, an online storefront, is meant
to connect small-business owners who
don’t have their own web-based stores
with shoppers all over the country.
JHMarketplace.com launches today
with several vendors in tow.
To promote tourism and the town,
Jackson Hole Marketplace sells ap-
parel, housewares, edibles, art, books,
music and other items linked to the
community. So far, Dragon Lady Teas,
the Liquor Store, JH Cookie Company
and LaBrecque Glassworks are in on
the action.
Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce
Director Jeff Golightly says a uniquely
Jackson retail website fills a niche.
“Our visitor services agents often
receive phone calls and emails from
visitors who have returned home,”
Golightly said in an email, “and regret not picking up an extra souvenir
or two during their visit to our area.
Jackson Hole Marketplace will provide another resource for these visitors and for others who would like to
have a piece of Jackson Hole delivered
to their door.”
The Liquor Store owner Stephan
Abrams said the idea came to him in
the shower. It’s taken eight months to
bring the concept to fruition.
Vendors sell their goods on consignment or wholesale. All online
prices are comparable to Jackson
Hole store prices. Abrams keeps his
merchants’ products in a warehouse
for quick shipment.
Dee Elle Bupp of Dragon Lady
Teas first heard about the launch
in the chamber’s newsletter and
contacted Jackson Hole Marketplace
sales manager Claire Fuller. While
See MARKETPLACE on 14C